Systems and methods for determining an organism's pathology

Abstract

A system and method for detecting whether a subject has a physiological abnormality. The system includes a fingertip sensor and a data collection and analysis system coupled to the fingertip sensor.

1 . A method for detecting whether a subject has a physiological abnormality, comprising: 
 attaching a fingertip sensor to a finger of a subject, wherein, during a period of time when the fingertip sensor is attached to the subject's fingertip, the fingertip sensor outputs data;    storing at least some of said outputted data;    utilizing at least some of said stored data to derive a score and/or index representing a quality of the subject's blood circulation; and    utilizing at least some of said stored data to: (a) determine whether the subject experienced an irregular heart beat; (b) determine the subject's heart rate variability; and/or (c) determine the subject's oxygen saturation.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: utilizing at least some of said stored data to (a) determine whether the subject experienced an irregular heart beat; (b) determine the subject's heart rate variability; and (c) determine the subject's oxygen saturation.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: utilizing at least some of said stored data to determine whether the subject experienced an irregular heart beat.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: utilizing at least some of said stored data to determine the subject's heart rate variability;  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: utilizing at least some of said stored data to determine the subject's oxygen saturation.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fingertip sensor comprises a light emitting diode and a photodiode.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the light emitting diode is configured to output light having a wavelength between 880 and 950 nanometers.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the fingertip sensor includes a second light emitting diode, which light emitting diode is configured to output light having a wavelength less than 880 nanometers.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the light emitting diode is configured such that it emits said light for at least a two-minute continuous period while the fingertip sensor is attached to the subject's finger.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein, during said two-minute continuous period, said fingertip sensor outputs data and at least some of said data output during said two-minute continuous period is utilized to derive said score and/or index representing the quality of the subject's blood circulation.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein at least some of said data output during said two-minute continuous period is utilized to determine whether the subject experienced an irregular heart beat and/or determine the subject's heart rate variability.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein at least some of said data output during said two-minute continuous period is utilized to determine whether the subject experienced an irregular heart beat and is utilized to determine the subject's heart rate variability.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein at least some of said data output during said two-minute continuous period is utilized to determine the subject's heart rate variability.  
     
     
         14 . A system for detecting whether a subject has a physiological abnormality, comprising: 
 a fingertip sensor for attaching to a subject's finger and for outputting data that can be used to determine whether the subject has a physiological abnormality;    a data collection and analysis system coupled to the fingertip sensor and configured to receive said outputted data, wherein the data collection and analysis system comprises a programmable data processor, wherein the programmable data processor is configured to: 
 store at least some of said received data;  
 utilize at least some of said stored data to derive a score and/or index representing a quality of the subject's blood circulation; and  
 utilize at least some of said stored data to: (a) determine whether the subject experienced an irregular heart beat; (b) determine the subject's heart rate variability; and/or (c) determine the subject's oxygen saturation.  
   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the data collection and analysis system further comprises: 
 an amplifier configured to amplify said outputted data; and    an analog-to-digital converter coupled to the amplifier and coupled to the programmable data processor and configured to convert said amplified data to digital data so that said outputted data can be processed by said programmable data processor.    
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising an optoisolator coupled between the analog-to-digital converter and the programmable data processor.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the fingertip sensor comprises a light emitting diode and a light sensor.  
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the light emitting diode is configured to output light having a wavelength between 880 and 950 nanometers.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the light emitting diode is configured such that it emits said light for at least a two-minute continuous period while the fingertip sensor is attached to the subject's finger.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the fingertip sensor includes a second light emitting diode, which light emitting diode is configured to output light having a wavelength less than 880 nanometers.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the programmable data processor is configured to utilize at least some of said stored data to: (a) determine whether the subject experienced an irregular heart beat; (b) determine the subject's heart rate variability; and (c) determine the subject's oxygen saturation.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the programmable data processor is configured to utilize at least some of said stored data to determine whether the subject experienced an irregular heart beat.  
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the programmable data processor is configured to utilize at least some of said stored data to determine the subject's heart rate variability.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the programmable data processor is configured to utilize at least some of said stored data to determine the subject's oxygen saturation.  
     
     
         25 . A method for analyzing a subject's blood circulation, comprising: 
 attaching a fingertip sensor to a finger of a subject, wherein, during a period of time when the fingertip sensor is attached to the subject's fingertip, the fingertip sensor outputs data;    analyzing at least some of the outputted data to determine useable pulse beats;    averaging the second derivative spectra of all the good pulse beats to produce an average;    dividing the average by the largest value of any individual pulse beat, thereby normalizing the data;    using the normalized data to derive a score and/or index concerning the subject's blood circulation.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the step of analyzing at least some of the outputted data to determine useable pulse beats comprises the step of smoothing at least some of the outputted data.